OBJECTIVES

By the end of this topic you should be able to:-

1] Describe the differences between Amateur and Professional.

2] Describe the growth of Professional Sport.

3] Say what the Olympic Ideal is.

4] Know where the finance for Amateur and Professional sport comes from.

PROFESSIONAL - Sportsmen and women are paid to compete in sport. Winning is all important. The more successful they are, the more money they earn. They usually train full-time and devote themselves to their sport. Sport is their work. They sign contracts and must take part in competitions.

The international governing bodies of each sport draw up rules to decide who is amateur in their sport. They decide if professionals may compete with amateurs.

WRITE A LIST OF ALL THOSE SPORTS WHERE PROFESSIONALS AND AMATEURS COMPETE AGAINST EACH OTHER.

Use page 110 'Sport Examined' to help you.

COPY OUT THE TABLE OF AMATEUR AND PROFESSIONAL SPORT AND ADD ANOTHER 10 SPORTS TO THE LIST.

In the early days of sport in Britain prizes were offered to all who took part and accepted if won. Betting was often part of sport, sometimes with wagers between the competitors. There was nothing wrong with making money out of sport.

During the second half of the nineteenth century popularity of sport grew. Many people in middle and working classes wanted to compete and play sport. By 1890 sportsmen and women were called amateurs as long as they did not receive payment or reward from their sport. There had been professionals in some sports for a long time e.g. cricket, golf and horse racing. They were controlled by the Sports Governing Body. They made rules for everyone involved in their sport. Sometimes these bodies decided to have nothing to do with professionals e.g. rugby union.

However, these governing bodies faced many new problems. Sport was developing quickly. Payments and rewards needed controls. It was obvious that rules and regulations were needed.

For more than 80 years the I.O.C. has made rules about amateurism. The I.O.C. wants only true amateurs to take part in the Olympic Games. In the early days of the modern Olympics the I.O.C. allowed governing bodies to check that their athletes were amateurs. But it was soon clear that different sports had different ideas about rules for amateurs. This meant that some athletes had unfair advantages. The I.O.C. believes sportsmen and women should not use their sport to make a living or any form of profit. Over the years many sets of rules have been issued and changed. No set of rules has yet been found which is acceptable to all countries and all sports. The OLYMPIC IDEAL is of a competition between part-time sportsmen and women competing purely for enjoyment. This ideal is becoming out of date. Winning at the highest level is now too important.

Amateur sport exists because people enjoy taking part in sport as a leisure time activity. Professional sportsmen and women will only exist as long as people are prepared to pay them for their services. These services include playing their sport for the public to watch and coaching or teaching groups and individuals. Sometimes companies are willing to pay professionals to use them and their sport in advertising the company and their products. (CAN YOU THINK OF ANY EXAMPLES OF THIS?). In recent years the future of professional football at the lower level has been questioned because of falling attendances. If the public is not willing to watch live football in large numbers, then the money to pay players will decrease. This is likely to result in fewer full-time professionals. A similar position occurred a few years ago in cricket until the Sunday League with shorter games was introduced.

In some sports a professional is available to coach for a fee e.g. golf club professionals but will only continue to make a living if people want their help. Coaches are also employed to improve teams in professional sport. Their livelihood depends on success of their team they coach. If their team fails they may need a new job. Some amateur sports employ a professional coach to be responsible for the best performers. Many companies are willing to pay successful players and teams to advertise their goods. The amount of money earned through sponsorship is linked directly to the amount of success of those players involved.

Today amateurs take part in sport freely, at their own level. The professionals must always chase success, for without it they will be unable to survive.

CHOOSE ANY TWO PROFESSIONAL AND AMATEUR SPORTS AND GIVE EXAMPLES OF WHERE THE FINANCE COMES FROM TO PAY THE PROFESSIONALS/AMATEURS WITHIN THE GAME.